LOUGHBOROUGH Foxes Women extended their lead at the top of the Women’s Premier League Midlands Division One to nine points with an emphatic 5-1 victory over title rivals The New Saints Ladies.

Loughborough got off to the perfect start as Eva Rogers, unmarked at the back post, lashed her volley beneath the visitor’s keeper and opened the deadlock inside two minutes. The hosts had a bit of bite about their play and nearly doubled their advantage, but Tiana Hicks’ long range curler hit the outside of the post and bounced away to safety.

The visitors’ top scorer, Emily Ridge, pounced on hesitancy in Foxes’ defence, and rounded Amy Burle to equalise for the Shropshire side the first goal Foxes had conceded in the league for 576 minutes.

Foxes pressed for a second, and came close through Laura Steele, Rogers and more notably Lindsey Tugby. Unfortunately, Tugby’s trickery was halted by an excellent fingertip save from TNS’ keeper. The scores were level and the game was finely poised at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Steele found the net with a 30 yard effort to put Foxes back into the lead, as she curled her free kick into the bottom left hand corner.

Substitute Becky McGrother, making her debut, came on and caused problems at the back for TNS and forced a few quickfire saves from the visitor’s keeper. However a third goal was on the horizon and it was McGrother who grabbed it, an excellent finish capped off a fine run down the right hand side of the box.

Foxes sensed there were more goals in the game and added their fourth and fifth goal of the match in the closing stages. Rogers crowned off a fine display with her second of the afternoon and McGrother also bagged a brace with a powerful header from a corner.

A thoroughly professional afternoon for the league leaders, even with four recognised first team players absent.

Loughborough’s next fixture is in two weeks time where they host Solihull Moors Ladies at the Loughborough University Stadium.